The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has launched a scathing condemnation of Ibom Air's handling of the controversial onboard incident involving passenger Comfort Emmanson, denouncing the airline's actions as both legally indefensible and a gross violation of fundamental human rights in an explosive official statement released today.
In the strongly-worded declaration jointly signed by NBA President Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, and Secretary-General Dr. Mobolaji Ojibara, the legal body characterized the lifetime flight ban imposed on Emmanson by Ibom Air and the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) as "a dangerous precedent that undermines the rule of law and due process in Nigeria's aviation sector."
The NBA's comprehensive statement systematically dismantles Ibom Air's position across multiple fronts, beginning with the shocking circumstances of Emmanson's removal from the aircraft: "It is profoundly disturbing that Ms. Emmanson was forcibly extracted from the aircraft, stripped naked in full public view, and subjected to degrading treatment that was not only permitted but documented and disseminated across digital platforms - a blatant violation of Sections 34 and 37 of the Nigerian Constitution guaranteeing human dignity and privacy."
The association highlights emerging video evidence that complicates Ibom Air's narrative, noting: "Contrary to the airline's claims, multiple eyewitness accounts and footage show an Ibom Air hostess physically preventing Ms. Emmanson from disembarking, an act that may constitute unlawful restraint under Section 365 of the Criminal Code. This critical context was conspicuously absent from the airline's official statements."
On the controversial lifetime ban, the NBA delivers a legal rebuke: "The imposition of such extreme sanctions without affording Ms. Emmanson the basic right to present her defense violates the audi alteram partem principle - a cornerstone of natural justice enshrined in our legal system. Neither Ibom Air nor AON possesses the statutory authority to unilaterally revoke a citizen's right to air travel without proper regulatory oversight and due process."
The statement takes particular aim at the circulation of unedited footage showing Emmanson's nudity: "The non-consensual recording and viral distribution of compromising images constitutes criminal behavior under Section 24 of the Cybercrimes Act 2015. Those responsible for this digital violation must face prosecution to deter future abuses of this nature."
In a dramatic show of support, the NBA has pledged to provide Emmanson with comprehensive pro bono legal representation, vowing to "explore all judicial and regulatory avenues to secure redress for these violations, including potential actions for defamation, unlawful confinement, emotional distress, and breaches of data protection rights."
The association calls for immediate corrective actions:
1. Unconditional withdrawal of the lifetime flight ban
2. Public apology from Ibom Air and AON
3. Independent investigation by aviation regulators
4. Criminal prosecution of those who circulated private images
5. Review of airline staff training protocols
Concluding with a powerful warning, the NBA states: "This incident represents a watershed moment for passenger rights in Nigeria. We will not tolerate the creation of a system where airlines serve as accuser, judge, and executioner. The NBA stands prepared to litigate this matter to the highest courts to ensure that corporate power never again trumps constitutional protections in our nation's aviation sector."
Legal analysts suggest this intervention could spark wider reforms in airline-passenger relations, with potential class action lawsuits being considered by human rights groups against what they describe as "a pattern of abusive practices by domestic carriers." The NBA's unprecedented move to directly challenge airline sanctions marks a significant escalation in protecting citizen rights against corporate overreach.